A new CoderDojo coding camp for kids to learn all about the fundamentals of computer programming is set to start at Birr Technology Centre this autumn.

The Birr CoderDojo is being supported by Shannon Development and Offaly County Enterprise Board.

Since the teenage entrepreneur James Whelton teamed up with entrepreneur and investor Bill Liao to found the first CoderDojo in Cork last year to teach kids how to write software, more than 100 CoderDojos have been set up, and not just in Ireland. Such free coding classes are set up and run by volunteers, with classes now running in cities from Tokyo to Melbourne. See the full list here.

The Birr CoderDojo has been set up by Deardriu Lally, a project manager with Ericsson, along with Declan Lally, an IT specialist with IBM Dublin; Laura Dargan, a business lecturer at Limerick Institute of Technology; and Denis Duggan, manager of Shannon Development’s Birr Technology Centre.

Lally, who was also involved in setting up CoderDojo Athlone, said the Birr coding class will also be looking for more mentors and volunteers.

The after-school coding club in Birr will run for children ages 8-18 on Wednesday evenings at Birr Technology Centre.